Your Face Feels Swollen & Slightly Painful
Another sign of allergies that you might overlook is your face feeling kind of swollen, puffy, and sightly painful. This can happen when you’re very congested. Sometimes that congestion doesn’t come out as a sniffly nose; instead it just causes head congestion that leaves you feeling swollen, foggy, and kind of odd.
Controlling Cat Allergies With Preventative Measures
How Can I Prevent Allergies From Cats
There are common strategies to help you reduce allergens from cats, such as the following tips:
- Dont let cats in your bedroom. Its better to keep this space as dander-free as possible.
- Wash your hands after touching cats to make sure you dont transfer allergens onto yourself.
- Remove carpets and clean walls frequently. It is easier to keep wooden or tile flooring dander-free. Regular cleaning of walls will help reduce allergens.
- Cover heating and air vents with a filtering material, such as cheesecloth, so that cat hair doesnt get into the vents.
- Install a whole-house air filter, preferably a high-efficiency particulate absorbing filter.
- Change filters on air conditioning units and furnaces frequently.
- Keep the humidity level in your home at about 40 percent. This makes it difficult for allergens to travel in the air.
- Vacuum weekly with a HEPA filter vacuum.
- Use a face mask while dusting or cleaning to prevent allergens from traveling to your lungs.
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Keep The Person Who Is Allergic To Cats Bedroom Off
For sound, restorative sleep, we all need allergen-free zones. Sleeping in a room or bed full of allergens of any kind, whether dust mites or dander, can cause you to wake up with a stuffy nose and headache. You especially want to keep all bedding, surrounding window treatments, and flooring clean. Make the bedroom the allergy sufferers safe haven.
How To Tell If Your Cat Is Allergic To Litter
If you have a cat, you need a litter tray to ensure that your cats excrement and urine are dealt with hygienically. While litter trays can be unsightly and smelly, they can also cause litter allergies in cats. An allergic reaction can be serious, leaving your cat feeling sick and uncomfortable.
If youre using a dusty or fragranced cat litter, this will be whats behind your cats litter allergy. An allergy can lead to sores, rashes, and acne, while other cats may experience eye and respiratory issues. Litter dust occurs when poured into a tray or when a cat digs through its litter to hide its poop and pee.
Figuring out the cause of your cats litter allergy is the most important step. Experimenting with different litter types is one of the most effective ways to find out which brand, or ingredient, is causing an allergic response.
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What About Hypoallergenic Cat Breeds
Unfortunately, there is no breed of cat that is hypoallergenic, including those without much fur, like the Sphynx. That’s because the allergen isn’t the fur, it’s proteins in the saliva, urine, and skin.
Some breeds are widely accepted as being less likely to trigger allergies, so perhaps they naturally have less Fel D 1, but this hasn’t been confirmed scientifically. There is no breed of cat that can be counted on not to trigger a person’s cat allergies. As noted above, each individual cat varies as to how much Fel D 1 he produces, so a person who’s allergic might have more or fewer issues with some cats.
Pet Allergies: Do I Have A Cat Allergy
Did you know that in the UK pets are the second most common cause of allergies? The biggest culprit is our feline friend; the housecat. In fact, the number of people who have a cat;allergy is significantly higher than any other pet allergy.
This probably doesnt come as much as a surprise to you. But a little-known fact is that the primary allergen actually isnt in the cats fur. It is found in a protein known as Fel d 1 .
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What Are The Signs Of Allergies In Cats
There are a number of signs of allergies in cats. In addition to extreme itchiness and skin problems, your cat may show the following symptoms:
- Sneezing, coughing, and wheezing
- Itchy, runny eyes
- Vomiting or diarrhea
- Paw chewing or swollen, sensitive paws
Flea allergy is the most common allergy in cats, and a cat with a flea allergy will experience intense itching, even from just one bite. The intense itching and chewing often lead to hair loss and open sores or scabs, which results in a secondary bacterial infection that will need to be treated with antibiotics.
Inhalant allergy or atopy is sometimes referred to as seasonal allergies. Humans allergic to inhalants experience respiratory problems. In cats, the primary sign of atopy is severe, generalized itching.
Food allergies have become the second most common allergy in cats, and they typically develop in response to the protein in a food. Signs of a food allergy include itching, digestive issues, and respiratory distress.
In the rare case of a contact allergy, a cats skin will be irritated and itchy at the points where the skin has had contact with the allergen. The itch is localized as opposed to the generalized itching with an inhalant allergy.
How To Pick A New Pet
It’s a good idea to see how your kid reacts to the kind of animal you’re thinking of getting. Take them to visit a home that has that kind of critter, and let them play with it. Thatâs no guarantee they won’t eventually get allergies, but itâll give you an idea. If you know your child is allergic but you plan to get a pet anyway, limit your child’s time with it at first, and watch for reactions.
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How Are Cat Allergies Treated
Cat allergies can usually be controlled with standard allergy drugs. Your doctor might recommend:
- Antihistamines, which are available over-the-counter — like cetirizine , diphenhydramine , fexofenadine , and loratadine ; or some antihistamines such as azelastine come in a nasal spray
- , like over-the-counter pseudoephedrine or allergy drugs that contain the ingredient pseudoephedrine such as Allegra-D, Claritin-D, or Zyrtec-D
Nasal steroid sprays, which affect allergy or asthma symptoms in various ways; steroid sprays are a common treatment for allergies. Budesonide , fluticasone , and triamcinolone are steroid sprays that are available over the counter.
Allergy shots are another option. Allergy shots are not always effective, and completing treatment can take years. They’re also not used for children under age 5. But they can be a huge help to some people. Ask your doctor if they make sense for you.
Unfortunately, there’s no way to prevent an allergy. Some studies have shown that exposure to pets as a young child seems to reduce the risk of developing pet allergies later. On the other hand, a child who already has allergic tendencies may get worse with exposure to a pet.
You Feel Exhausted All The Time
When you think of allergies, you probably think of sneezing, wheezing, and rashes. Those are very common symptoms, but they aren’t the only ones! Cat allergies can also cause fatigue, leaving you feeling exhausted all the time. In fact, Healthline reports that experts give this type of fatigue a specific name â âbrain fogââ and itâs all to do with the inflammation.
âPeople with allergies experience inflammation,â ays from the Cleveland Clinic. âThat inflammation leads to a congested nose, disrupted sleep patterns and not getting good rest.â Itâs an easy symptom to overlook, as fatigue can have a variety of causes, but if it’s combined with some of the below symptoms, it could be a sign of allergies.
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Cat Allergy Quiz Explained
You might be curious as to why these questions were asked let me explain.
#1 Children raised with pets are less likely to have allergyto them.
#2 If youre experiencing allergy symptoms and have a cat,it might be the culprit.
#3 Black cats are known to produce more allergy-causing dander .
#4 Most people experience cat allergy indoors, if you feelbetter outside it might be a clue.
#5 If you are allergic to other things, pollen for example,the chances of developing additional allergies are increased.
#6 Do you experience allergy symptoms when youre aroundcats? This is the most obvious reason you might have allergy.
#7 There tend to be genetic factors with allergy, eczema,and asthma.
#8 Allergies can pop up during pregnancy or after giving birth this surprised a lot of women
#9 If you have cats and have a dusty house, it could becausing allergy symptoms.; Dont forgetto clean .
Can Being Allergic To Pets Kill You
Anaphylaxis is a rare but life-threatening allergic reaction, usually caused by things such as insect stings or food items and even pets. It is a sudden and severe allergic reaction that occurs within minutes of exposure and requires immediate medical attention. Without treatment, anaphylaxis can get worse very quickly and lead to death within 15 minutes.;
When someone comes into contact with an allergen capable of causing anaphylaxis, they might experience symptoms such as:
- Face swelling
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Do What Works For You
In conclusion, it is very difficult to deal with a cat allergy when you already own a cat or two . . . or three. I think you have to decide how far you will go to deal with the problem. Some people may be willing to get rid of their cats. For others, they may choose to use a filter and maintain their close relationship with the cat. This article gives you several options to help tackle the problem.
It is a personal decision and you have to find what works for you. Ultimately, it comes down to what you are willing to live with. As for us, I plan to get an air filter, do more extensive cleaning, and try to keep the cats out of the bedroom!
This article is accurate and true to the best of the authorâs knowledge. It is not meant to substitute for diagnosis, prognosis, treatment, prescription, or formal and individualized advice from a veterinary medical professional. Animals exhibiting signs and symptoms of distress should be seen by a veterinarian immediately.
About Our Cat Dander Allergy Test
This allergy test uses a blood sample to determine if you are allergic to Cat Dander.
It’s estimated that as many as 3 in 10 people living in the United States are allergic to cats. Allergies to cats are twice as prevalent as allergies to dogs. People who are allergic to cats aren’t allergic to the cat itself; they’re actually allergic to certain proteins in the cat’s urine, saliva, and epithelium .;
Dander consists of dead skin cells, which means that long-haired, short-haired, and even hairless animals can cause pet dander allergies. Pet dander is microscopic; it stays in the air longer than epithelium from cockroaches or mites; and because of its jagged shape, it attaches easily to surfaces like upholstered furniture, bedding, and clothing. Cat and dog dander has even been found in homes and buildings that don’t contain pets. Because pet dander’s ability to affix to surfaces, people with allergies can experience allergic symptoms even if they don’t pet the animal.
Cat dander allergy symptoms include itchy or watery eyes, itchy skin, and/or respiratory problems. Dander can remain on clothing and bedding, and until they’re thoroughly cleaned, they will continue to create problems for those with allergies.;
There are 86.4 million cats in U.S. homes, according to the Humane Society, so testing for cat hair and dander allergens is important.
Tips for helping to rid your home of pet dander and hair if you or a loved one has a cat allergy:
- No painful skin pricks
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Cat Allergy And Newborns
If you are bringing home a newborn, keep your baby and cats apart for the first three months. Cats like soft cozy places to sleep, and babies sleep a lot in the beginning, so it is tempting for a cat to cuddle up in the bassinet. If your baby is premature , you need to be extra-careful to keep the cat away from your baby. A neonates immature lungs cannot cope with the irritating allergens produced by a cat.
It Feels Like You Have A Constant Sore Throat
Pet allergies will generally make you feel like you’re living with a cold that won’t go away, and can result in sneezing and coughing. Cat allergies can also lead to a post-nasal drip, a condition in which you produce more mucus which is also thicker in volume, causing it to slide down your throat and create the sensation of a constant sore throat.
One symptom of this type of allergic reaction is that you might also notice that it comes and goes. It could be worse in the morning and at night, or only really bad whenever you’re home. If you always feel like you have a cold, but no fever or any other symptoms, see an allergist.
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You Experience Shortness Of Breath
Another annoying symptom of cat allergies is feeling like you just can’t catch your breath. The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America says, “Many airborne particles are small enough to get into the lungs. For some, this exposure can cause severe breathing problems. Highly sensitive people can begin coughing, wheezing and have shortness of breath within 15 to 30 minutes of inhaling allergens.”
How Do I Treat My Cats Allergies
The best way to treat allergies in cats is to remove the offending allergens from your cats environment.
- The best way to remove fleas from your environment is to prevent them from entering it in the first place. Use a veterinarian-recommended flea/tick preventative such as Revolution or Bravecto Topical Solution for cats. Badger Veterinary Hospital carries Revolution and Bravecto Topical Solution in our clinics; additional flea/tick preventatives are available through our online pharmacy.
- Switch to a dust-free, unscented cat litter if the chemicals in scented litter are an issue.
- To reduce the impact of pollens, mold, or dust, bathing your cat one to two times a week helps remove environmental allergens from the skin and relieve itching. Your veterinarian can recommend a shampoo that will help prevent drying out your cats skin.
- Also helpful for dust allergies is regular cleaning. Clean your cats bedding once a week and vacuum at least twice a week.
- If your cat is diagnosed with a food allergy, your veterinarian will recommend a prescription diet.
Unfortunately, not all allergens can be removed from your cats environment. When this is the case, your veterinarian may recommend medication, such as cortisone or steroids.
Are you concerned about your cats itching? Do you think your cat may have allergies? Call today to schedule an appointment with your Badger Veterinary Hospital veterinarian!
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Visit Friends With Cats
Choose to visit a friend with an outgoing cat to allow you to get up close and personal with a feline but on a limited basis. Ask your friend to choose a time when the cat is fed, comfortable, and relaxed. Ask your friend permission to use an allergy relief spray or wipes on the cat if necessary while you’re visiting.
Use your allergy medication half an hour before the arranged time. When you arrive, let the cat set the pace. You may be greeted by being sniffed at your feet and legs at first. You can dangle your hand to see if the cat rubs up against it, which can indicate petting is acceptable. If your allergies are still under control, you might allow the cat to jump onto your lap. Make your visit about 15 minutes at the most to keep both you and the cat comfortable.
In another week or two, visit again with the same cat, and stay longer, up to half an hour. Begin to branch out and visit other friends with cats.